Becoming All Things to All Men Without Becoming a Stranger to God Introduction:
A. Text: I Corinthians 9:19-231. Paul established that he is not bound to men, but rather free from them: I Corinthians 7:22-23B. The goal was to win those outside of Christ:
2. Liberties cannot be used to satisfy the flesh: Galatians 5:13
3. Paul was a servant to man, but not according to the will of man: Galatians 1:10
4. In discussion of this text we are taking about having an attitude of being a servant: II Corinthians 4:51. It takes preaching to make the gospel known: Titus 1:3
2. Sometimes that goal could not be realized because of nationality: I Corinthians 1:23-24
I. Becoming as a Jew to Win the Jews (I Corinthians 9:20)A. Paul was a Jew in the flesh, therefore he was not becoming what he already was: Philippians 3:4-5II. Being a Servant to Those of the Law and Those Outside of the Law (I Corinthians 9:20-21)1. He was not dividing himself from any others: Romans 1:14-16B. Paul was partaking in the liberties that would bring about commonalities with the Jews:
2. In Christ there are no Jews or Gentiles to become as: Galatians 3:27-28
3. The Jews are no better than the Gentiles: Romans 10:121. Circumcision of Timothy as a liberty, but not allowing such to be law: Acts 16:1-3; cf. Galatians 2:1-5
2. Paul kept certain days, but knew that such could not occur as a matter of faith: Acts 20:16; cf. Galatians 4:9-10A. Paul served those of the Law of Moses because they needed to be saved: Galatians 3:11III. Becoming Weak to Gain the Weak (I Corinthians 9:22)1. They needed to be told they were redeemed from the cursed law: Galatians 3:13B. Those outside of the law where the Gentiles: Romans 2:14
2. The thinking of those of the law needed to be changed: Romans 2:28-291. Those outside the law needed to be told they could be part of one new body: Ephesians 2:11-17C. In identifying Paul’s service to those of the law and those outside the law, we can see that Paul served both Jew and Gentile:
2. Those outside the law needed to be told that they were now able to be of the circumcision: Colossians 2:11-141. I Timothy 2:7
2. Acts 17:1-2A. There are those who are weak in the faith (Romans 14:1), but is this what Paul is speaking of?Conclusion: “And this I do for the gospel’s sake…” (I Corinthians 9:23)1. When Paul was weak, it was not his faith he spoke of: I Corinthians 2:1-5B. We should be able to relate to and help those who are weak knowing that we too have had such times:
2. His weakness was of the flesh through the persecutions he faced: I Corinthians 4:10-16; cf. II Corinthians 12:7-91. Paul knew what suffering was and how to be content: Philippians 4:11-12
2. Sharing in struggles in something we ought to be capable of even among the saints: I Corinthians 12:26A. Paul partook in different customs / states of being to be able to relate the gospel to those folks.
B. We should do all that we can, without committing sin, to be able to effectively communicate the Gospel to others.1. Being a good neighbor: Romans 15:2
2. Condescend to those of a lower place: Romans 12:16
3. Let people know that the Lord understands their needs and will help them: Hebrews 4:15
4. The thing we all have in common is the need to be saved and the fact that the Lord supplies the cure: I Timothy 2:4
5. This we must do without becoming a stranger to God (Galatians 1:10)!!
© 2005 May be used if permission by author is granted and proper acknowledgment as to the authorship of this material is made. In other words, preachers do your own work. Use this as a tool for your own work if such is helpful! – B.A.Y.